Choice of Acupuncture points for particular conditions
COMPUTER AP DATABASES
The larger the database, the more points are filed under any given region, symptom or condition. However, the first 6-10 points listed (in order of descending citation score) are the most important for routine use. For example, in the most recent summary of the database, 401 points were listed from a base of 44 texts for the treatment of sequelae (hemiplegia, paralysis) of CVA or polio. The Top Ten points were:
Ranking 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Point LI04 LI11 ST36 GB34 ST06 GB30 ST04 LI15 TH05 GB39 Score .86 .79 .77 .74 .73 .72 .68 .66 .62 .62
The Maximum score possible was .964. The bottom 10 points were:
Ranking 392 393 394 395 396 397 398 399 400 401 Point CV13 CV17 BL65 LI01 ST23 BL07 KI20 GB06 GB43 LV06 Score .02 .02 .02 .02 .02 .02 .02 .02 .02 .02
The scores have been rounded up or down to the second decimal place. Clearly, the first list would be expected to give better therapeutic results than the second list above.
However, selection of the Top Ten points in the above list would not necessarily be the best selection for a CVA sequel which was primarily mutism or aphasia. For such cases, the top 10 points are:
Ranking 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Point CV23 GV15 HT05 LI04 Z 21 TH03 GB02 TH17 NZ32 SI19 Score .82 .72 .44 .37 .27 .23 .23 .21 .20 .18
(From a total of 71 possible points listed by 27 texts, maximum possible score was .952)
The differences between the Top Ten points for CVA and the Top Ten points for aphasia underline the need for formulating specific questions for the computer search. Where possible, one should search the database for general data (CVA), general region (head, neck, thoracic limb etc), specific region (arm, leg, hip, etc), specific nerve (mandibular, hypoglossal, radial etc). Where specific symptoms are marked (aphasia, incontinence, etc) they should also be searched.
The greatest volume of data refers to the abdomen and its organs/functions. Although there are points listed for "abdomen", "digestive upsets", "reproductive disorders" etc, these lists should be used as guidelines for general study or general consideration. In specific cases, it is preferable to search under the most relevant symptom or condition, such as "vomiting", "diarrhoea", "constipation" etc, rather than "digestive upset" or "metritis", "infertility", "impotence", "oligospermia" etc, rather than "reproductive disorders".
The database covers >1100 headings (regions, organs, conditions, symptoms, etc). The printout of the complete listing for the Top Twenty points runs to some 160 pages of full-width (132-character) computer paper. In one hour, it is not possible to cover these data. Therefore, I have chosen to list the Top Twenty points for about 130 of the major body regions and their subregions and organs (Appendix 2). The Top Twenty points for about 130 of the more common symptoms are also listed (Appendix 3).
PRESCRIPTIONS FOR MAJOR BODY AREAS, FUNCTIONS, SUB-REGIONS AND COMBINATIONS OF SIMILAR CONDITIONS
In the database (see Appendices 1,2,3) points are filed under separate condition codes such as:
040201 Shoulder area (unspecified conditions)
040202 Clavicle: APA for fracture reduction
040203 Shoulder: APA for dislocation reduction
040205 Shoulder, scapula : pain .. ache.. .arthritis etc
040211 Shoulder, scapular: paralysis
040219 Deltoid: myofascial syndrome
Using the computer, it was possible to combine information to retrieve all points used in, for example, all conditions of "shoulder, clavicle and scapular area" (a total of 181 points from 45 references). In this way, the entire database was summarised by amalgamation of data for major body areas, functions, subregions and combinations of similar conditions.
The Top Twenty points and their scores are listed in Appendix 2. These lists should prove useful in the study of AP and as reference material for teaching seminars. They do not, however, supplant the lists of points for specific symptoms but should be seen as general guidelines in the choice of points.